The New Orleans Saints have had such a long stretch between their Sept. 9 season opener and their Monday night trip to San Francisco in Week 2 that many players have described it as a bonus "bye week."

Scott Threlkeld/The Times-PicayuneNew Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma said of the team's schedule, which includes a number of prime-time games: 'We've been there, we've done that, we know what to expect .'

But no one has been complaining after getting a much-needed chance to recharge their batteries following such a hectic start to the season.

As quarterback Drew Brees pointed out, teams normally get a three-day weekend after their final preseason game before switching into regular-season mode. The Saints and Minnesota Vikings, however, jumped right into preparations for their nationally televised Thursday night opener at the Superdome, which the Saints won 14-9.

"Typically those three days after camp are needed to refresh, mentally and physically. That break just got pushed back a week later," said Brees, who compared the atmosphere leading up to last week's game to what the Saints experienced in Miami seven months earlier.

"That Minnesota week almost felt like the Super Bowl week because of the media hype and blitz and everything, but just also because your routine gets totally thrown off. You almost have to create a whole new routine for that week."

Unusual schedules have become routine for the Saints.

Monday night's game will be their fifth consecutive prime-time game, dating to last season's playoff run.

"When you start to have success, part of what comes with it are the Thursday nights, the Thanksgiving Days, the Monday nights, the Monday nights on the road," Saints Coach Sean Payton said. "It's really where you want to be, and yet you understand that there's a challenge with that."

It's a challenge to which the Saints have repeatedly responded in recent years.

Last season, they famously shook off the "rust" after losing their final three regular-season games, benching their starters in Week 17, and having a bye week to start the playoffs. None of those factors prevented them from cruising to a blowout victory over the Arizona Cardinals in their playoff opener.

"You know, we had a week off before the Arizona game, and Coach gave us a week off on our bye week (during the regular season). So we've been there, we've done that, we know what to expect," said linebacker Jonathan Vilma, who admitted that players had to shake off a natural amount of rust when they got back to work for a bonus practice Tuesday, followed by another day off Wednesday and a return to their usual pregame routine Thursday.

But Vilma, who said he appreciated the time off more than most as he continues to recover from a groin injury, said the players have handled it well.

"Coach does a good job of getting us rest, and then we in turn do a good job of coming back ready to go to work," Vilma said.

The Saints haven't always thrived through scheduling quirks, though. They became a featured attraction after their breakout 2006 season, which led to a fifth preseason game on Hall of Fame weekend in Canton, Ohio, a Thursday night trip to Indianapolis in Week 1, a Monday night home game against Tennessee in Week 3 and a Sunday night trip to Seattle in Week 6.

That season they struggled to an 0-4 start, with the schedule being one of many factors that challenged them.

"We learned a lot from that year," Brees said. "Coming off the NFC championship game, there were high expectations from 2006, and then we ended up losing our first four.

"I think when you look at our schedule last year, we had quite a few prime-time games or games where you had to adjust to the schedule, too. É I think it's something we've learned how to handle over the years. I think us as a team learned about expectations going into that 2007 season. And obviously the expectations we all have this season coming off a Super Bowl win are very high.

"We know how good we can be, but we know it's just one week at a time and we'll tweak the schedule as necessary."

INJURY REPORT: The long stretch between games has been positive for the Saints' injury report. Only three players missed practice Thursday Ñ tailback Chris Ivory (knee), offensive tackle Zach Strief (knee) and linebacker Anthony Waters (hamstring).

Vilma and linebacker Stanley Arnoux (ankle) practiced fully. Arnoux had been out for a month after being injured early in training camp.

The 49ers' injury report isn't much longer. Pro Bowl linebacker Patrick Willis was limited Thursday with knee and thumb injuries, but they aren't thought to be serious. Starting guard Chilo Rachal missed practice with a stinger, which could sideline him Monday night. And return specialist Ted Ginn missed practice with a knee injury that also puts his status in jeopardy.

RESPECT FOR SINGLETARY: Payton began scouting his coaching opponent in Monday's game, Mike Singletary, nearly 30 years ago. Payton grew up in the Chicago suburb of Naperville, Ill., then went on to play quarterback at Eastern Illinois while Singletary was roaming the middle of the field for the fearsome Chicago Bears' defense.

"You wore his jersey or Walter Payton's jersey growing up there," Payton said. "I was a sophomore or junior in college the year they won the Super Bowl (1985 season), and he was fantastic. It wasn't just great ability, it was great everything. You see that same attitude now with the way he coaches and the way his defense plays. It's contagious, and you can see it with the way that team plays. The only thing the memories do is that it makes you feel older. That's who we watched, and he was a tremendous player."

GIVING BACK: A group of Saints players welcomed a group of players from the budding football program at Sojourner Truth Academy to the team's practice facility Thursday and presented them with a $100,000 check. Brees, quarterback Chase Daniel, center Jonathan Goodwin, cornerback Jabari Greer, safety Roman Harper, safety Malcolm Jenkins, cornerback Tracy Porter, safety Chris Reis, cornerback Leigh Torrence and offensive tackle Zach Strief each donated $5,000, the total of which was matched by $50,000 from the Saints &amp; NFL Youth Programs.

The charter high school was started in 2008 by Los Angeles transplants Channa Mae Cook and Kristin Leigh Moody, who had intended to spend a week in New Orleans helping to rebuild McDonogh 42 Elementary. Cook and Torrence were classmates at Stanford, which is how the Saints players wound up getting involved.

"All the guys standing up here are just happy to have a chance to do that, and obviously commend Channa and all the staff at Sojourner Truth for everything they're doing for these kids," Brees said.

Mike Triplett can be reached at mtriplett@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3405.